Mechanical igniter



Nw., 2L, 1950 Filed March l, 1949 H. KOESTEN MECHANICAL IGNITER 2Sheets-Sheet l IIYVENTOR. Har/7:25@ aafla/z H. KOESTEN MECHANICALIGNITER Nov. 2l,

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March l, 1949 Patented Nov. 21, 1950 UNITEDSTATES ATENT OFFICE MECHANICAL IGNITER Herman Koesten, New York, N. Y.

Application March 1, 1949, Serial No. 78,923

Claims. l

This invention relates generally to those articles classied as noveltiesand incorporates the features of an ornamental toy and a practicalimplement and has specific applications to such apparatus includingmeans and methods for obtaining a iiame for use as a mechanical lighterwhile having equal utility as a novel toy.

Heretofore, there have been mechanical lighters which have been utilizedas a pure ornament and have been relegated to the simple use as a cutedevice which gathers dust when not in use. In many instances suchlighters have had little appeal other than for their purely mechanicalfunction.

The present invention of a novel and new mechanical lighter encompassingthe both features of a novel type of mechanical igniter as Well aspossessing the features which satisfy the aesthetic and mechanical urgesof all ages provides at the same time a novel and useful mechanicalapparatus which has use as a model for auto-enthusiasts and furthertypifies and satisfies the auxiliary need for a mechanical toy having aunique practicality.

Thus, the present invention provides a new and useful tool While it hasthe mechanical features of a practical implement adapted to be used as amechanical lighter also provides, in itself, the added features whichsatisfy the craving of all persons and has a typical justification as anembodiment of the mechanical age in which we live.

It is, therefore, the prime object of the present invention to provide anew type mechanical lighter having both the novel features of a new toyas well as being adapted for use as a mechanical igniter.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new typemechanical lighter oplerating under new principles and functions.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide incombination a new type of mechanical lighter adapted for use as acigarette lighter and which, at the same time, has utility as a novelautomobile toy.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a uniqueapparatus having the features of a mechanical igniter yet embodying initself the mechanical features of an automobile toy.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new typeof mechanical cigarette lighter.

Still another object of the present invention is to'provide Aa new typeof noveltyV which has have the function and utility of a new novelautomobile toy.

Still another object of the present invention is lto provide means andapparatus for mechanically igniting a cigarette and which may, at thesame time when in use, be adapted for use of a new type of automobilemodel.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new typeof automobile model which has the features of an automobile racingmodel, yet which, by means of a unique type of internal mechanism, maybe adapted for use as a mechanical lighter or igniter.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a combination toyand practical mechanical igniter for use either as a toy or as acigarette lighter.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new typeof novelty having the features of a mechanical cigarette lighter and anautomobile.

rfhe invention, in another of its aspects, relates to novel features ofthe instrumentalities described herein for keeping the principal objectsof the invention and to the novel principles employed in thoseinstrumentalities whether or not these features and principles may beused as the said object or in the said field.

Other objects of the invention and the nature thereof will becomeapparent from the following description considered in connection withthe accompanying drawings and wherein like reference characters describeelements of similar function wherein the'scope of the invention isdetermined from the dependent claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a pictorial illustration of a preferred embodiment adapted toshow the utility of the present invention as a novel automobile modeland as residing on a raceway from which it is catapulted down to a stopwhich will release the mechanism internally included by said automobileso as to function as a mechanical lighter.

Fig. 2 is a sectionalized view of the raceway adapted to illustrate thebase upon which the trolley or raceway rests.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the base and raceway as taken alongline 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectionalized View taken along line 4 of Fig. l and adaptedto sho-w the internal structure of both the catapult and the internallighting mechanism for themechanicallighter en- 3 compassed by theautomobile racing model When said automobile is not being used'as alighter.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the catapult structure used to initiatethe lighter mechanism of the automobile;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the internal structure of themechanical lighter contained by the lighter when said lighter isoperative.

The present invention encompasses a new type of mechanical lighterand/or igniter adapted to be used as an ordinary cigarette lighter andwhich, amongst other features, is adapted to serve as a novel toy whennot in use as a mechanical lighter. Thus when the mechanical lighter isinoperative, it becomes a permanent model of an automobile racingmachine which has unique properties of a catapult racing machine. By anovel catapult mechanism, the automobile racing machine is fed along atrolley or raceway and at a predetermined point therealong a stop orrelease mechanism is activated so that the lighter is red by means ofthe internal construction of the automobile racer.

In Figs. 1 and 4, there is shown the racing automobile and mechanicallighter as being positioned and held at one end of a catapult at one endof a base by means of a catapult arrangement. The automobile racingmachine I0 is held on a base II upon which there is constructed araceway I2 or trolley which is adapted to guide the racing automobilealong the base II to a predetermined releasing stop I3. Machine I@ isfed along base II via raceway I2 by means of an initiating catapultarrangement I5 shown in Fig. 4. A button IS activates the catapultmechanism so as to drive machine Ill down the raceway.

As shown in Fig. 2, the entire base, including the raceway, is broughtabove surface level by means lof stilts I'I and I8, better illustratedin Fig. 3. Each of the stilts I8, in order to overcome any frictionalaspects of the surface, may be lined at its underside by means of felt20.

Racing machine I5 constructed internally to have a front motor portion2| having a grill 22 and a ram 23, which, as later described, willoperate in cooperation with end stops I 3 of the raceway I2 to activatethe mechanical lighter 'encompassed Within motor hood 25. Hood 25loutwardly includes a lid or hinged cover 26 which upon the operation ofram 23 will operate as shown in Fig. 4 to swing open so that the lightermay ignite and the flame come through the hood portion of the motor.Further, the coniiguration of the racing machine is entirely true inthat it takes on the aspect of the streamlined racing machines used inautomobile racing tournaments. The automobile has a seating arrangementfor a typical racing machine 3S and also includes a tapered end portion3i typical of such machines. When auto I0 is catapulted by pressingbutton i6, wheels 3l and 32 etc. turn and speed along base Il down theraceway and the car is stopped by release mechanism I3 which in turnactivates the internal mechanism through the use of the ram 23 so as toignite the lighter.

As shown in Fig. 4, and Figure 6, auto III is maintained in catapult I5by means of a locking U-sha'ped section 40 having turn portion 4I,portions e2 and d3. In the locked arrangement of the catapult I5,portion 4I of the catapult is contained by means of a hook i4 which hookmay be released by a lever d5 activated by pressure on button I6. In thelocked arrangement a trigger 5Il comprising an auto portion 5I sheathingan inner rod under tension 52 is maintained. When button I6 ispressurized or pushed, hook dll no longer retains curved portion il andstop portion d3. Connected to rod 52 are parallel' sliders 5l' Which areslidingly supported by a base 6I). Because of the compression of rod 52under restraint, as soon as the machine is released, the machine I0 iscatapulted along the base II and guided by means of raceway I2 to stopI3. Upon the arrival at the stop I3, ram 23 is pivoted at point G'Iabout structure 68 by means of a concentric tube 69. A hook portion I0is constructed at the end of ram 23. As shown, lid 26 of hood 2| pressesa spring 'I4 connected at 75 by means of a nut or bolt. When catchportion 8B is released by hook lll, lid 26 is flung open by means ofcompression spring 'M and by means of a pivoting arrangement, arm 9i! isswung downwardly to rotate wheel 9I, as by gears S2, so as to strike theflint portion 93 of the lighter and so to ignite the fuel contained inthe barrel or magazine 94.

In Fig. 6, the operation of the lighter as shown in a lighted conditionis illustrated. It shows how the downward pivotal activation of Wheel 9|encompasses the firing of the lighter.

The novel combination of an automatic lighter and automobile racingmodel, as described above, is merely illustrative and not exhaustive andsince many changes could be made in the above construction, and sincemany Widely different embodiments of the invention may be made withoutdeparting from the scope thereof, it is intended that all mattercontained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing,shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A mechanical cigarette lighter having a configuration of a movableautomobile toy comprising, lighter means and cooperating activatingmeans; said lighter means being included within said toy automobile andcomprising a flint,

y a flint wheel, a fuel source adapted to be ignited upon the rotationof said flint wheel, means for rotating said wheel, and a ram connectedto said wheel rotating means; said activating means for initiating therotation of said flint wheel comprising a platform, a stop placed at theend thereof, which stop is adapted to be struck by said ram of said toyautomobile so as to activate said llint wheel so to ignite the fuelcontained within said toy automobile.

2. A mechanical lighter adapted to be used as an automobile racing toycomprising, igniter means and cooperating igniter activating means; saidigniter means being included Within said automobile racing toy; saidcooperating activating means for activating said igniter comprising aplatform for supporting said automobile racing toy, a plurality ofstilts connected to said platform so as to raise the latter to a levelabove the surface upon which the lighter is supported, catapult meansadapted to lockably retain said toy automobile at an end of saidplatform, said catapult means including means for propelling saidautomobile racing toy along said platform, and means for stopping saidautomobile racing toy placed at the opposite end of said platform; saidstop means engaging said igniter activating means of said toy auto uponcontact therewith so as to activate said igniter means in said toyautomobile.

3. A mechanical lighter adapted to be used as an automobile racing toycomprising, igniter means and cooperating igniter activating means, saidigniter means being included within said automobile racing toy; saidactivating means for activating said igniter comprising a platform forsupporting said automobile racing toy, a plurality of stilts forsupporting said platformso as to raise the latter to a level above thesurface upon which the lighter is supported, catapult means including atrigger adapted to releasably hold said toy automobile at o ne end ofsaid platform, means for releasing said trigger to propel saidautomobile toy along said platform to the opposite end thereof, stopmeans placed at said latter end for engaging said igniter activatingmeans of said toy auto upon contact therewith so as to activate thesame.

4. A mechanical lighter as in claim 2 wherein said racing toy automobileincludes a hood and a lid at the top thereof, and hinge means connectingsaid lid to said hood whereby said lid is opened when said igniter meansis activated.

5. A mechanical lighter as in claim 2 wherein said toy automobileincludes a hood and a lid therefor, hinge means connecting said lid tosaid hood and a lever mechanism activated by contact of said stop meanson said platform with said igniter activating means so as to raise saidlid upon the igniting of said lighter.

HERMAN KOESTEN.

REFERENCES CITED p The following references are of record in the lc ofthis patent:

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 332,260 Germany Jan. 2'?, 1921664,737 France Apr. 2, 1929

